Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Maryland Personal Injury News: Are Baltimore Accident Victims Getting Put on Hold during 911 Calls?

August 29, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It could be an alarming trend or just a brief hiccup, but whatever the end result turns out to be, it’s a bit unnerving to read that 911 callers hoping for help in emergencies such as personal injury accidents, car and truck crashes, and the like might be placed on hold by an apparently over-worked system. The lost minutes or seconds could mean the difference between life and death.

Consider any situation where a driver and/or passengers of a car, SUV or motorcycle may have been injured after their vehicle is hit by a commercial deliver truck or other, larger motor vehicle — the thought of being put on hold during such a critical time is unthinkable in this day and age.

As Maryland injury attorneys, I and my staff understand how many victims of traffic accidents, car-pedestrian collisions and other driving-related wrecks would feel if we turned the calendar back to the days when there was no organized emergency response system. The emergency 911 system has been around in one form or another since the mid-1970s, but with the advent of cell phones over the past couple decades, almost anyone can get access to a 911 operator most anywhere in the country.

But getting through apparently can be an issue, according to a recent editorial in the Baltimore Sun. The author’s message in that article highlights an apparent nightmare experience with Baltimore’s 911 response system following a local car crash between the victim’s small passenger car, a much larger SUV and a minivan; it might just make some people think differently about driving into the city.

According to the article, the victim was driving through northeaster Baltimore on a Saturday afternoon in late July when she became involved in a multi-vehicle wreck. The author explained that she and her vehicle became, in essence, the collateral damage from this collision. Despite the severity of the roadway crash, the author explains that, amazingly, she was physically unhurt when she jumped out of her smashed vehicle and dialed 911 for assistance.

In what the woman describes as an “alternate reality,” her 911 call was answered by a canned voice stating, “Please wait for the next available representative.” Checking to make certain that she had dialed the correct numbers, it appeared right, but still she was put on hold by the 911 system.

Baltimore Auto Accident News: Medevac Choppers Help Get Victims of Traffic Accidents to Hospitals Quickly

August 28, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

How often have we all read the words, “Accident victims were evacuated to local hospitals by Medevac helicopter,” yet it’s not often that people give much thought to the life-saving advantages of a medical chopper flight to a not-so-local hospital. While many readers might consider medevac services truly useful only when an individual is injured in car accident that occurs in a remote part of the countryside, such as a state park or other more rural setting, it’s not uncommon to have emergency responders call for a medical evacuation chopper in instances where the best medical care more than a 30-minute ambulance ride from the scene of a severe car or pedestrian traffic accident.

The fact is, medevac helicopters can get a person injured in an auto accident to the right medical facility for treatment of specific or life-threatening injuries. It can be said that in a percentage of accidents, just taking an injured driver or passenger to the closest hospital may not be in that person’s best interest. This is especially clear in cases of traumatic brain injury — also known as closed-head injury — where the nearest local medical facility is poorly equipped for such specific and critical care.

As Baltimore auto accident lawyers and Maryland personal injury attorneys, I and my staff understand the importance of getting a car, truck or motorcycle accident victim stabilized as quickly as possible to avoid future complications. So many factors come into play following a highway collision that only the medical personnel at the scene can assess each victim and determine the most immediate and effective care.

Baltimore Traffic Accident News: Two Dead in Fatal Early Morning Highway Collision in Cecil County, MD

August 27, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Faulty vehicle equipment is just one of the many causes of fatal and injury-related auto, truck and motorcycle wrecks here in Maryland. While failure of safety equipment and other critical vehicle control systems may only account for a small percentage of traffic fatalities, this is nonetheless a potential for tragic results on our highways and surface streets.

As Baltimore car accident attorneys and Washington, D.C., personal injury lawyers, I and my colleagues read news stories and see television reports of multi-vehicle crashes that take the lives of numerous individuals every year. While it is not a stretch to say that most car, bike and commercial truck accidents are the result of driver error, inattention or downright negligent behavior, roadway collisions can and do happen as a result of defective equipment.

Now, every car crash or 18-wheeler wreck can have tragic results, the mayhem caused by a catastrophic failure of a vehicle control system or safety component can be nearly instantaneous and affect numerous persons in several different cars or truck in the immediate vicinity of the affected vehicle.

If a defective part or multiple components are to blame for causing a driver’s loss of control and precipitating a traffic accident, that is something that police investigators and insurance company claims personnel must determine. The question then comes, was the failed component a result of poor design or manufacturing processes, or did it stop working due to bad maintenance practices or a deliberate act, such as a trucker disconnecting the front brakes to allegedly improve fuel mileage.

Among the list of potentially deadly maintenance issues are excessively worn tires, poorly made tire retreads, improperly secured fifth wheel coupling, and even failure to maintain marker lights and reflective tape. A recent crash along a stretch of Interstate 95 in Cecil County took the lives of two people when a semi tractor-trailer rig went out of control and smashed into a sport utility vehicle.

Baltimore Injury Accident News: Elderly Maryland Resident Dies in Anne Arundel County Two-car Traffic Collision

August 22, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

When it comes to surviving a serious car, motorcycle or commercial truck accident, fate does not discriminate between young or old, man or woman, driver or passenger. Depending on the type of accident, injuries can range from minor to severe, or somewhere in between. In the worst of cases, fatal results are not uncommon, especially in so-called “T-bone” collisions or head-on automobile wrecks.

As Maryland car accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys, I and my colleagues understand how the suddenness of a bad car, truck or motorcycle crash can change a person’s life forever. In the blink of an eye, a perfectly healthy individual can be set on a path of pain, reduced mobility or even permanent disability. And the costs associated with medical treatment and ongoing physical therapy and rehab can be staggering.

Representing residents of Baltimore, Gaithersburg, Rockville and the District, our job is to help victims recover damages caused as a result of another person’s negligence. In cases of fatal car, truck and pedestrian accidents it is not uncommon for the family of the victim to file a wrongful death claim against one or more parties on behalf of their deceased loved one.

And while nothing can bring back a person killed in a senseless and tragic traffic collision, there are instances where justice served can provide a grieving family some level of closure following an unexpected death. Not too long ago, an elderly woman was killed when the vehicle in which she was riding was hit by another motorist who allegedly ran a red light, causing fatal injuries and leaving her husband to face life alone.

Baltimore Traffic Accident News: Driver Runs Red Light, Causes Multi-Car Crash in Bel Air, MD

August 20, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

While it may seem that only innocent people are hurt in automobile crashes, there are many instances when the individual who was found to be at fault is also injured; sometimes severely. Numerous Maryland car, truck and motorcycle crashes are caused every year by drunken or otherwise impaired, distracted or just plain thoughtless drivers, and we are always amazed when we read of situations where the negligent party walks away from a devastating roadway collision with hardly a scratch.

As Maryland personal injury attorneys and auto accident lawyers, we have seen the extent of injuries that result from a high-speed car crash or commercial trucking accident. Aside from the usual bumps, bruises, cuts and abrasions, victims of violent car and truck accidents can also suffer traumatic brain injuries and spinal damage due to another driver’s carelessness or outright disregard for the health, safety and well-being of others around him.

Plus, we might add, surviving a bad car accident is just the first step in a long and often costly process for the victims. Medical bills, physical therapy, lost wages and other costs can conspire to put not only financial stress on a family, but also place an emotional strain on the members of that family. If the victim was the primary income earner for his or her family, the effect can be devastating for all concerned. Naturally, a fatal car crash is something no family ever wants to have happen to a loved one.

Maryland Woman Taken to Hospital with Critical Injuries following 3-Car St. Mary’s County Traffic Accident

August 18, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Being in the right doesn’t always mean one is safe from danger on the road. The reason we say this is that there are many people out there who may feel that when they have the right-of-way, it’s another person’s problem if they are injured in a Rockville, Frederick or Gaithersburg car crash. The problem with this thinking is that sometimes, a motorist can be “dead right,” which doesn’t help him or his family, not in the least.

As Maryland car and truck accident attorneys and Washington, D.C., personal injury lawyers, it is our job to help victims and their families recover from sometimes devastating passenger car, commercial truck and motorcycle wrecks. And it shouldn’t come as any surprise that people involved who are injured, either seriously or fatally, may have considered themselves completely in the right when it came to proper roadway etiquette.

Unfortunately, as we said, being dead right is not something that most people would aspire to. Life is too precious to rely on a red light or stop sign to protect one against serious bodily injury or death. This is why, as auto and trucking accident lawyers and drivers ourselves, we suggest that every motorist exercise a high degree of caution whenever he or she travels on Maryland roadways.

Maryland Auto Accident News: Anne Arundel Police Officer Reportedly Involved in Six Previous Car Crashes

August 16, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As Baltimore automobile and trucking accident attorneys, I and my staff have the utmost respect for our law enforcement officers here in Maryland and around the country. There is no question that state and municipal patrolmen put their lives on the line nearly every day in this state, enforcing traffic laws and helping to protect the public from those individuals who may cause serious or fatal roadway accidents.

Anybody injured in a car crash or tractor-trailer collision was likely assisted by a patrolman who was probably one of the first emergency responders on the scene. Like any person, we hold these uniformed civil servants in high regard for their selfless sacrifice in the public interest.

And while the majority of the men and women who dedicate their lives to the public good are thoughtful and conscientious individuals, there are sadly always a few bad apples in every organization. Police officers, in particular, are sworn to uphold the laws of this state. Although automobile, truck and motorcycle accidents can and do happen everywhere, to everyone, even the police. But, at the same time, it is a safe assumption that the public at large believe police officers should be without any fault. No doubt, the truth likely lies somewhere in between.

Not long ago it was revealed that an Anne Arundel patrolman had been involved in a half dozen prior car crashes before the one he was in earlier this past spring. According to news reports, Officer Adam Hinson, a five-year veteran with the Anne Arundel County Police Department, ran into two parked trucks along a stretch of Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. on May 27, 2011, while on duty in his police cruiser.

Baltimore Auto Accident News: Maryland Woman Dies in Single-car Anne Arundel County Rollover Crash

August 11, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Although it’s difficult to imagine, at least for those who haven’t been in a car crash, a single-vehicle accident can be quite serious for those involved. And while the circumstances of a single-car or single-truck wreck are unique, the results are typically similar depending on the severity of the crash and the type of vehicle involved.

As personal injury attorneys serving residents of Baltimore, Frederick, Hagerstown and Washington, D.C., we have experience in helping victims of car, truck and motorcycle accidents. It’s probably true that a single-vehicle auto accident can cause as much damage and bodily harm as a multi-vehicle collision, naturally when more than one vehicle is involved the number of occupants caught up in a crash can up the ante from an injury standpoint.

In single-vehicle accidents, again depending on the circumstances, police and auto accident lawyers look at all the possible causes. While driver error is certainly at the top of the list, other factors such as weather, road conditions and even the vehicle’s mechanical condition are considered as potential contributing factors. In the case of mechanical problems, there is always a chance that a faulty component or other critical part may have caused the accident, or at least exacerbated the outcome for the victims.

Faulty safety equipment, such as airbags, seatbelts and car seats, can result in more serious injuries than typical for a car in perfect operating condition. Poorly maintained vehicle equipment, such as tires and brakes, may have contributed to the accident by not allowing the driver to avoid a collision or cause the vehicle to go out of control and result in a secondary crash.

Whatever the cause, the police investigators typically look for the causes of an accident and other factors that may have contributed to the severity of the wreck. Insurance companies will always have their own people looking into the cause of a car, bike or commercial trucking accident. The evidence that turns up will likely drive the course of the investigation, insurance claims and subsequent law suits, if any.

Baltimore Personal Injury News: Pasadena, MD, Man Dies in Glen Burnie Traffic Accident

August 8, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

During the summer months is when we tend to see a greater frequency of car-motorcycle accidents here in Maryland. Of course, most every motorcycle rider knows that his or her chosen pastime can be fraught with risks, but when managed well those risks can be minimized, though not always eliminated. Much of what anybody on the road depends is the skills and alertness of other drivers; hopefully for most of us, motorists, truckers and bikers alike all do their part to be vigilant and safety conscious.

Unfortunately, as we all know too well, this is not always the case. As personal injury lawyers serving the residents of Maryland and Washington, D.C., I and my colleagues see our share of serious and sometimes fatal bike, auto and commercial truck wrecks in the news every week. Especially in the case of bikers, the stakes are high as far as bodily injury goes.

A motorcyclist who tangles with a larger motor vehicle such as an SUV, minivan or commercial delivery truck can receive any number of injuries ranging from lacerations and contusions to neck, back and closed-head trauma, otherwise known as traumatic brain injury. Recovery from the latter types of injuries can be a long and costly road for the victim as well as his or her family. In some cases, the individual may never be the same, having been permanently disabled due to another driver’s negligence.

Maryland Personal Injury News: Glen Burnie Man Killed in Car Accident with Unlicensed Teen Driver

August 6, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It’s one thing for an unlicensed or uninsured individual to drive a motor vehicle unlawfully on a public road without incident, but it’s a totally different story when someone who is untrained, uninsured or otherwise unauthorized to drive and then crash that car, truck or motorcycle on the street. To cause an accident as an unlicensed or uninsured driver is not uncommon, but to have an accident that results in a fatality is serious business.

For accidents caused by an uninsured or under-insured driver, the injured party typically files an insurance claim through their own insurance company, which provides coverage for such events under the heading termed uninsured motorists (UM) or under-insured motorists (UIM).

As Baltimore car accident attorneys and Maryland personal injury lawyers, we understand that being issued a driver’s license by the State is a privilege that tens of thousands of Marylanders enjoy because they practiced, studied and passed driving tests designed to prove their competence behind the wheel. But this privilege to drive on public roads does not extend to unlicensed individuals.

Causing a fatality with a motor vehicle and not having a license or proper authority to operate a vehicle on a public road can result in serious consequences. Maryland law enforcement and the state’s court system take vehicular homicides very seriously. More often than not, an unlicensed person poses a greater danger to others on the road when compared to those persons who have been legitimately licensed to operate a passenger car or commercial truck by the State of Maryland.

Unlicensed drivers can and do pose a hazard to pedestrians and occupants of other cars and trucks. The danger these people present is real as evidenced by a fatal car crash that occurred not long ago in Anne Arundel County. And while this incident may have started out as an “innocent” prank or even a “harmless” impulse, the result was tragic to say the least.

According to police reports, the teenagers involved appear to have taken a relative’s vehicle without permission and driven it on public roads in the middle of the night without proper licensing and likely without proper training. Who’s to blame? That is the question. Are the teen’s parents? The relative whose vehicle was taken? These and other questions must now be answered by the authorities and sorted out in a court of law. At the same time, a man has been killed in another senseless traffic accident.